Table of Contents
- Author’s Note
- Foreword
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Former Hostage and Hostage Family Interactions with the U.S. Government
- Former Hostage and Hostage Family Interactions with Non-Governmental Organizations
- Former Detainee and Detainee Family Interactions with the U.S. Government
- Conclusion
- Appendix A: Current Needs and Requests from Former Hostages and Hostage Families
- Appendix B: Demographics of Participants
- Appendix C: Written Survey Responses
- Appendix D: Written Survey Scale
Appendix C: Written Survey Responses
Survey respondents were asked a series of questions where they were able to assign a numerical value (1-7) to the level in which they agreed upon for each question or statement. The numbers 1 = “strongly disagree;” 2 = “mostly disagree;” 3 = “somewhat disagree;” 4 = “neither agree nor disagree;” 5 = “somewhat agree;” 6 = “mostly agree;” or 7 = “strongly agree.”
| U.S. Government (Overall) | Pre-PPD-30(range; average) | Post-PPD-30 |
| The frequency with which families received detailed and accurate information at USG briefings was sufficient. | 1-4; 1.4 | 5-7; 6.25 |
| Information was communicated clearly at USG briefings. | 1-5; 1.7 | 5-7; 5.75 |
| Laws and policies were communicated clearly to hostage families and families understood those policies. | 1-4; 2.2 | 5-6; 5.75 |
| Specific candid assessments/plans of hostage recovery efforts were communicated clearly. | 1-4; 1.4 | 2-7; 5.2 |
| Assessment for recovery options and plans were shared and communicated clearly to families. | N/A | 2-7; 5 |
| The frequency with which families received briefings on the geopolitical situation was sufficient. | N/A | 5-7; 6 |
| Families had an understanding of the complexity of the geopolitical situation. | 1-7; 2.4 | 5-7; 6.25 |
| Families felt that the return of their loved one is a priority of the USG. | 1-5; 1.6 | 5-7; 5.75 |
| Overall, USG officials were well coordinated (i.e. communicating and sharing intelligence with other USG agencies) regarding their loved one’s case. | 1-4; 1.5 | 2-6; 4.25 |
| Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (HRFC) | Pre-PPD-30 (range; average) | Post-PPD-30 (range; average) |
| The HRFC was accessible to me. | N/A | 5-7; 6.25 |
| The HRFC was helpful in dealing with my loved one’s case. | N/A | 5-7; 5.75 |
| The role of each person at the HRFC was made clear to me. | N/A | 1-5; 3.5 |
| All people on calls/meetings with the HRFC were introduced to me. | N/A | All participants answered “Yes.” |
| Were any of your requests for meetings with the HRFC denied? | N/A | All participants answered “No.” |
| All of my emails and calls were answered promptly by the HRFC. | N/A | 3-7; 4.75 |
| The Family Engagement Coordinator within the HRFC was helpful to me in dealing with my loved one’s case. | N/A | 1-6; 3.75 |
| I felt understood and supported by the HRFC. | N/A | 3-7; 6 |
| I was shown compassion and empathy by the HRFC. | N/A | 5-7; 6.5 |
| The HRFC informed me about reimbursement for travel/accommodations to Washington D.C. | N/A | All participants answered “Yes.” |
| The HRFC is helping me handle the media. | N/A | 60% of participants answered “Yes.” |
| Department of State (DoS) | Pre-PPD-30 (range; average) | Post-PPD-30 (range; average) |
| The DoS was accessible to me. | 1-7; 2.1 | N/A |
| The DoS was helpful in dealing with my loved one’s case. | 1-5; 2.3 | N/A |
| The role of each person at the DoS was made clear to me. | 1-4; 2.3 | N/A |
| All people on calls/meetings with the DoS were introduced to me. | N/A | N/A |
| Were any of your requests for meetings at the DoS denied? | N/A | N/A |
| All of my emails and calls were answered promptly by the DoS. | N/A | N/A |
| I felt understood and supported by the DoS. | 1-7; 2 | N/A |
| I was shown compassion and empathy by the DoS. | 1-7; 2 | N/A |
| Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (S/SPEHA) | Pre-PPD-30 (range; average) | Post-PPD-30 (range; average) |
| The S/SPEHA was accessible to me. | N/A | 7; 7 |
| The S/SPEHA was helpful in dealing with my loved one’s case. | N/A | 7; 7 |
| The role of the S/SPEHA was made clear to me. | N/A | 6-7; 6.5 |
| All people on calls/meetings with the S/SPEHA were introduced to me. | N/A | All participants answered “Yes.” |
| Were any of your requests for meetings at the S/SPEHA denied? | N/A | All participants answered “No.” |
| All of my emails and calls were answered promptly by the S/SPEHA. | N/A | 6-7; 6.5 |
| I felt understood and supported by the S/SPEHA. | N/A | 6-7; 6.75 |
| I was shown compassion and empathy by the S/SPEHA. | N/A | 7; 7 |
| Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) | Pre-PPD-30 (range; average) | Post-PPD-30 (range; average) |
| OVA was accessible to me. | 6-7; 6.75 | 7; 7 |
| OVA was helpful in dealing with my loved one’s case. | 1-7; 5.8 | 6-7; 6.75 |
| The role of the OVA was made clear to me. | 1-7; 5.3 | 6-7; 6.75 |
| I felt understood and supported by the OVA. | 1-7; 5 | 6-7; 6.75 |
| I was shown compassion and empathy by the OVA. | 1-7; 5.3 | 7; 7 |